Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-10-09
uniform and his nose knocked clear
around to windward.
Todnx. mill Io ,,rhnt .,,inhE ba callnd

L ~-~N'-
around to windward.
To-day will be what might be called
a gala day among the yachtmen. l
shall be at the Battery during the
early part of the morning shedding in
formation on those who wish to know
more about the technique OF sailing
yacht, and l hope that all will feel free
to come and ask me anything that l
may know about,it tf1
1t is absolute folly to attend race
OF this kind unless you know the de-
tails and maneuvres of the two con-
testants. 1t is with this view that l
have reluctantly consented to write a
piece for the World regarding yachts
and their habits which willenable any
one to understand whether either or
both are lacking or not.
The Thistle and the Volunteer have
togetl Ter twenty-eight sails, which
t.ey have divided equally between
them. These consist OF mainsail; /; a
club top-sail, So ocalled because it was
first used by club; the spirit topsail ,
first invented by man named Spirit (;
the gaff, balloon forestaysail, regular
fore staysail, number one jib, number
two jib. storm jib, balloon jib topsail,
working jib topsail. baby jib topsail,
stern trysail and spoOnaker.
From the above description it will
be easy at great distance to tell just
what each crew is doing to-day, and
whether the Thistle is close reefing
her presidential boom or seeking in
an underhand way to luff up on her
spoonaker.
The spirit topsail and club topsail
are very much alike, and many peo-
pie will get fooled on the two to-day.
Those who are in doubt will do we'll
to consult with the regular Smart
Aleck, who will be on each boat,
ready at all times to turn his thinker
wrong side out for the benefit OF
those he loves. He is generally
at the theater, explaining in q
hoarse whisper what is going to
be down ON the stage next, but to-day
he will get away from the theaters
for few hours in order to tell people
when the gaff is being hoisted by
the rope purchase or peak halyards
to draw taut the leach OF the sail, or
when the halyards of the mizzen
scupper are rove through sheare and
bent to the head cringle of the sail
in order to clew home the monkey
wrench or douse the cross-trees in
order to luff up ON the off side or
close reef hot box.
Still, the reader must remember
that all this may be reversed in light
winds or head winds, which may do
away with the jib, No. 2 jib and jiblet.
Every effort will be used to-day by
both yachts to get close to the wind.
l have this from the owners of the
contestants, and in case any one hears
of any wind that can be secured
promptly and delivered on board the
boat he will confer favor on myself
and other yachtsman if he will COM
municate he fact as early as possible
to this office.
The windward or weather side of a
yacht is relatively the same that it is
on a steamer or a schooner rigged
vessel, while the leeYard is on the
other side.
Schooners are divided into two
classes, the five and ten-cent schooner.
The prairie schooner does not belong
to either of these classes. 1t is a safe
boat for inland navigation, and when
its tailgate is close reefed cannot be
easily waterlogged or popped.
Long and short legs are professional
terms that will be used on the excur-
sion boats by young men who will
give nautical information to-day and
yell "Cash! !" tomorrow. This refer
ence to the different dimensions of
legs does not mean anything personal
and need not prevent the most fastidi-
Gus from attending the race.
A sail in braids is tied up by ropes.
The man who undertakes to talk
yacht without knowing this gropes in
the most dense and Opaque ignorance.
Ii he attends the race to-day let him
get behind a pile of life preservers
and stay there where he can bewail
his misspent life.
Both yachts will tack to-day, and
perhaps lie close to the wind also.
We have not yet decided whether we
will do both or not. We hope to take
it easy for the first half of the race,
but on the home stretch we will pull
her wide open. We may sail in the
winds eye, or in the teeth of the
wind, but will be governed by the
rules in relation to international
yacht racing. Both yachts had their
feet in hot water all last night in order
to show clean pair of heels to-day,
and at 10 o'clock last night both had
taken off their stays. 81
Steamboats, are requested not to
sass the police boat and then go to
Europe, where they cannot be ar
rested.
People who become ill on the trip
and contribute to the Atlantic, are
hereby notified that no attention will
be paid to such contributions unle g
such contributions are accompanied